Elliptical galaxy in Andromeda
The bright oval in this image is Messier 32, a companion of the much larger Andromeday Galaxy (Messier 31) that fills most of the frame above it. Messier 32 is bright enough to be seen in binoculars, just to the south of the nucleus of Messier 31. Both of these galaxies are over 2 million light years away.
This galaxy has the distinction of being the first elliptical galaxy to be discovered, by French astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil in 1749.
| Magnitude | 8.2 |
| Apparent Size | 8' x 6' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 2.3 million |
| Right Ascension | 0:42.7 |
| Declination | +40 52 |
Image details: Exposure times of 12 minutes luminance and 8 minutes each of red, green and blue, taken with an an SBIG STF-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/5.2.
December 2023